Thomason: Tigers have shortfalls

The Pacific men's basketball team has fallen far short of its goals, but there is one positive development to report about the regular season.

Jason Anderson

The Pacific men's basketball team has fallen far short of its goals, but there is one positive development to report about the regular season.

It's over.

The Tigers finished seventh in the Big West Conference and will play No. 6 Cal State Northridge in the first round of the Big West Tournament at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Tigers went 11-18 overall and 5-9 in the Big West. They haven't had an overall record this bad since 1999-2000, when they finished 11-18. They haven't had a worse conference record since 1988-89, when they finished 3-15.

Few expected the Tigers to fall this hard after winning three consecutive conference titles, but Pacific coach Bob Thomason knew his team had shortcomings.

"We've had deficiencies all year," Thomason said. "We knew going into the year we were going to have some, but you can overcome that by playing really hard, really smart and with great purpose. We just don't do that enough."

Thomason then provided a sweeping description of the traits his team lacks.

"We're not big and strong and tough enough," he said. "When you have a combination of not being big enough and tough enough and you don't have enough good guard play, this is what happens."

Five Pacific players were honored when the All-Big West men’s and women’s basketball teams were announced on Monday.

Sophomore forward Anthony Brown was named second team and senior guard Reggie Vezia honorable mention. From the women’s team, sophomore forward Karen Dawkins and senior guard Jerise Freeman each received honorable mention, and Jake Kelly was named to the All-Freshman Team.

The conference’s head coaches voted for postseason awards. Long Beach State’s Larry Reynolds was named men’s Coach of the Year and Long Beach State senior Aaron Nixon the Player of the Year. This is the first time in four years those honors haven’t gone to Thomason and one of his players.

UC Riverside’s John Margaritis was named women’s Coach of the Year, and Highlanders junior Kemie Nkele was named Player of the Year.

The road back to Bill Simoni Field got longer last week when Pacific softball coach Brian Kolze postponed his team’s home opener.

Heavy rain and an unfavorable forecast forced Kolze to reschedule a doubleheader against No. 22 Fresno State for April 3.

The Tigers (11-3) have played their first 14 games on the road. They will play 12 more road games, including six this week at the Spring Fling in Honolulu before making their home debut on March 24.

Kolze said it will be the latest home opener in the program’s history.“And,” he said, “probably in the history of college softball.”

Freshman David Rowse was named Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Pacific State Bank Tiger Classic after helping Pacific upset No. 24 Baylor 3-1 on Saturday. Rowse said the Tigers (5-11) played inspired baseball following an emergency team meeting on Friday night.

“There were some things we needed to address,” Rowse said after striking out nine and holding the Bears to two hits over eight innings. “The meeting was real positive. We emphasized becoming one as a team, and I could feel everyone behind me.”

Pacific held a dedication ceremony Sunday at Hal Nelson Tennis Courts to honor donors who contributed to the facility’s recent renovations, which included the Werner Family Scoreboard and chair-back seats in the Eve Zimmerman and Hobie Miller Bleachers.